How to Convert an ASP.NET Core 6 MVC View to String in Web API

Discover how to easily convert ASP.NET Core 6 MVC Views to strings using a simple method, even when Razor is not in use.
---

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Cannot find a way to convert an ASP.NET Core 6 MVC view to string in Web API?

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Converting an ASP.NET Core 6 MVC View to String in Web API

In web development, there are times when you may need to render an HTML view as a string, especially when working in a Web API context. If you're using ASP.NET Core 6 but do not utilize Razor views, it can be quite challenging. This guide will walk you through how to achieve this.

The Problem: Rendering Views to Strings

You might find yourself in a scenario where your ASP.NET Core 6 Web API needs to generate HTML output from a view but does not actually employ Razor or traditional view rendering. For instance, you might want to send an HTML email or expose a view as part of an API response.

The Solution: Using a Custom Helper Method

To tackle this issue, you can create a helper method in your project. Below is a step-by-step breakdown of how to implement this.

Step 1: Creating the Helper Class

You need to create a helper class that will contain a method to render your view to a string. Use the following code:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Calling the Helper Method

After creating the helper, you can call this method from your controller to get the rendered HTML string. Here's how:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 3: Implementing a Demo

To demonstrate this functionality, let’s build a simple example that incorporates a model, a controller, and views.

Example Model

First, define your model:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Example Controller

Here’s how you can use the helper method in a controller:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

In your Index view, render the HTML string:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

And here’s what your Privacy view could look like:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

By following the steps outlined above, you can effectively convert an ASP.NET Core 6 MVC view to a string, even in situations where views and Razor are not directly utilized. With this capability, you can easily manipulate and render HTML as needed for your Web API scenarios.

Feel free to implement this method in your projects and streamline your HTML rendering processes!